Follow Us on Google
From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has commenced the screening of 173 candidates shortlisted for its 2026/2027 Overseas Scholarship Scheme (OSS) for MSc and PhD programmes.
The five-day screening exercise, currently taking place at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), involves candidates drawn from states across the South-East region.
Speaking at the opening of the exercise, the Team Lead for the South-East Centre of the PTDF OSS, Afam Ikwuemesi, disclosed that the shortlisted candidates represent key disciplines including Geology, Engineering, Management and Environmental Sciences.
He explained that the selected fields were identified as areas with critical manpower shortages in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. “The candidates are assessed based on their suitability and the potential impact of their academic research on the oil and gas industry.”
Ikwuemesi added that over 900 candidates applied for the scholarship across the South-East, out of which 173 were shortlisted for the screening.
Other News
According to him, the PTDF scholarship scheme is designed to build local capacity by training Nigerians to become highly skilled professionals in the oil and gas industry at both master’s and doctoral levels.
Ikwuemesi added that the screening panel comprises seasoned professionals from academia and the energy sector, whose expertise is critical in identifying the most qualified candidates.
Also speaking, a panelist and Head of the Department of Geology at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Dr Ifeanyi Oha, stated that candidates are evaluated based on their academic credentials, research proposals or statements of purpose, as well as professional memberships, in line with established guidelines.
“We are meticulous in selecting the best candidates and making informed recommendations,” Oha said.
He noted that the scholarship offers recipients a valuable opportunity to acquire knowledge and contribute meaningfully to national development.
